Whispers

Lost in Rhythm

The following day, the tension between them had softened, but it was still there, like an unspoken conversation lingering in the air. The words her ex had said, the memories it stirred in her, and the way it all hung over their new relationship weighed on her. Cillian hadn't pushed her for answers last night. Instead, he had simply been there, offering her quiet comfort in the silence.

Now, as they walked through the sun-drenched streets of Nafplio, Cillian's hand in hers, the warmth of the day seemed to loosen her nerves. The city was alive with its typical June energy—cobblestone streets bathed in sunlight, whitewashed buildings standing against a backdrop of deep blue sea. Tourists filled the narrow alleys, but it still felt like their own world.

Cillian squeezed her hand, bringing her back from her wandering thoughts. "You're too quiet today," he said, a soft smile playing on his lips.

She looked up at him, trying to offer a smile in return. "I'm just... thinking."

"You've been thinking a lot," he murmured, stopping in his tracks. He gently tugged on her hand, pulling her closer. "You don't have to keep it all inside, you know."

She felt a lump form in her throat but didn't want to dive into it, not yet. Not now. "I know," she said quietly, glancing away, hoping to change the subject.

Before she could, a lively tune filled the air, the sound of Greek bouzouki music drifting from a nearby street corner. A group of musicians had set up, playing traditional music, their laughter and melodies lifting the spirits of everyone passing by.

Cillian's eyes lit up. "This," he said, grinning, "this is what we need."

Before she could protest, he gently pulled her into the open space where others had gathered, right in the middle of the street. She hesitated, looking around at the people, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"Cillian," she whispered, "what are you doing? People are staring."

"Let them stare," he said, his voice full of mischief, his hand slipping around her waist. "Come on, dance with me."

She let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "I don't know how."

He moved closer, his voice a low murmur just for her. "You don't have to know. Just follow me."

With that, he began to sway, his body relaxed, moving to the rhythm of the music. She felt stiff at first, uncomfortable with the idea of dancing in front of strangers, in the middle of the street. But his presence was magnetic, grounding her, making her feel safe despite the open space around them.

Slowly, she gave in, letting herself follow his lead. His hand was warm against her back, his fingers lightly tracing her spine as they moved. The music seemed to weave its way through them, making her forget the people around them, forget the heaviness that had followed her all morning.

She smiled, shaking her head. "You're crazy."

"Maybe," he admitted, pulling her closer, "but I'm making you smile, aren't I?"

She couldn't argue with that. The warmth of the sun, the lively music, and the way he held her—it all began to melt her worries away, if only for a moment.

Cillian twirled her unexpectedly, causing her to let out a small laugh of surprise, and when she spun back into his arms, she found herself looking up into his blue eyes. The world seemed to shrink to just the two of them. She realized, in that moment, how much she trusted him.

"See?" he whispered, his forehead resting lightly against hers. "You're safe with me. Always."

Her heart swelled at his words, and for the first time in days, the ache in her chest eased. She hadn't fully opened up to him yet, hadn't told him everything about her ex or the darker parts of her past. But as they swayed to the music, she realized that maybe, just maybe, she could.

After a few minutes, the music slowed, and the crowd clapped for the musicians. Cillian reluctantly let her go, but he didn't step far, keeping her close as they began to walk again through the winding streets.

"Thank you," she said softly, her voice almost lost in the breeze.

"For what?"

"For this," she gestured around, "for making me feel better."

He gave her a crooked smile, his hand slipping back into hers. "I'll always be here when you need to feel better."

They continued walking in comfortable silence, her heart a little lighter now. She hadn't expected him to make such an effort, to push her out of her head and into the present moment. And yet, Cillian had done just that, making her laugh, making her dance, making her feel more alive than she had in a long time.

As they strolled through the narrow streets of Nafplio, Cillian's thoughts kept drifting back to her. The sunlight caught in her hair, her soft smile lingering from their impromptu dance. There was something about her—something deeper that had captured him. At first, it was curiosity, but now, he realized, it was more. He wanted to protect her.

He sensed her past still weighed on her, the way she hesitated to open up. The words from her ex at the restaurant haunted him, hinting at something more, something she hadn't yet shared. But he knew not to push. She would tell him when she was ready.

As they neared her house, he couldn't stop thinking about how she'd changed him. Before her, his life had been a blur of fleeting moments, but now, he wanted something more—something real. He squeezed her hand gently, feeling the warmth of her skin, knowing that he wasn't ready to let her go.